While Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew demonstrates a female response against societal norms and both Shelley’s Frankenstein and Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde demonstrate a suppression of, and consequent outlet for, a self-identity unaccepted by society, all three works demonstrate how society has affected both the state and expression of individuals’ gender identities and sexualities.
Full Answer
What are the gender issues in the play The Taming of the Shrew?
Issues related to gender are hugely important in this play, which centers around Petruchio "taming" Katherine and forcing her into the traditionally submissive role of a wife. The play is filled with characters who fit and don't fit traditional gender roles—particularly the idea of the male as dominant and the female as submissive.
How is The Taming of the Shrew historically accurate?
Shakespearean play, The Taming of the Shrew, accurately presents the social norms of the time period. Though slightly exaggerated for comedic effect, it does display many secular laws and commonplace actions that went on during the Renaissance.
What is the relationship between Taming of the Shrew and Frankenstein?
While Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew explores the course that an oppressed woman takes to regain stability in her relationship, Shelley and Stevenson both decide to exclude women from normal roles to expose the homosexual undertones present within Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
How does Shakespeare cushion the theme in The Taming of the Shrew?
Shakespeare, however, cushions the theme in The Taming of the Shrew by preventing the tamer, Petruchio, from using physical violence to subdue the shrew, Katherina.
How does Taming of the Shrew show gender roles?
The Taming of the Shrew is concerned with gender roles and the institution of marriage. The play illustrates how the values of Shakespeare's time prized submissive women, and men often defined themselves in terms of how well they controlled their wives.
What were the gender norms in Shakespeare's time?
Women were expected to be subservient, quiet and homebound, with their primary ambitions entirely confined to marriage, childbirth and homemaking; granted, social status and economic class played into what degree these expectations manifested, with the chief example being Queen Elizabeth I herself.
What is Shakespeare's message about gender roles?
In Macbeth, Shakespeare challenges gender roles by intertwining both masculine and feminine characteristics into characters, ultimately conveying that is not gender, but the nature of the person that determines how they act.
What are the 2 themes in Taming of the Shrew?
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare that delights the reader as it takes on issues of marriage, gender, and social hierarchy. These themes would have engaged audiences and had them laughing in their seats. Petruchio and Kate have their difficulties as he tries to mold her into a submissive wife.
How does Lady Macbeth defy gender roles?
Lady Macbeth resists gender roles insofar as insulting her husband, emasculating him, and using hypothetical violence, however, this is also to inspire him to reach the position they feel he deserves; but she does not stray so far as to commit murder herself.
How does Shakespeare in Love play around with gender roles?
Shakespeare in Love movie reflects feminist spirit, especially women's inequality, which women cannot act in play, women should follow the role, and women cannot disobey the statement role. There are significant parts which notice to the gender inequality.
Why did men play women's roles in Shakespeare plays?
As for the era's societal restrictions, a female actor would be considered an abomination, and so men and boys performed the roles of both sexes. England lagged far behind European countries in accepting female actors.
How do the male characters treat the female characters in Macbeth?
Although many characters in Macbeth defy stereotypical gender roles, several of them utter words that seem to indicate that they do accept deeply-ingrained stereotypes. They do seem to believe that women are generally weak and emotional, while men are strong, rational, and powerful.
What themes are explored in The Taming of the Shrew?
The Taming of the Shrew ThemesGender and Misogyny. Issues related to gender are hugely important in this play, which centers around Petruchio "taming" Katherine and forcing her into the traditionally submissive role of a wife. ... Social Hierarchy. ... Theater, Performance, and Identity. ... Education. ... Marriage.
How is marriage presented in Taming of the Shrew?
The Taming of the Shrew does not end with a marriage but observes several as the play goes on. Moreover, the play considers the impact that a marriage has on family members, friends and servants and on how a relationship and bond are formed thereafter.
What was Shakespeare main purpose in writing The Taming of the Shrew?
Shakespeare was a working playwright who needed to write in order to pay his bills (he was not some rich lord writing for his amusement or to send work to his friends) so his primary aim was to entertain. Taming of the Shrew is an early play and explores the division of the sexes.
What is the taming of the shrew?
This play, The Taming of the Shrew, incorporates much of the era’s social norms and laws. Shakespeare, who was born nearing the end of the Renaissance, accurately portrays a comedic story plot that falls well within the social norms ...
How could Shakespeare produce homosexual themes and allude to such relationships without fostering animosity among the contemporary viewers of his?
Further complicating the answer, Shakespeare and his contemporaries wrote plays for all male casts where young male actors would cross-dress to play the female characters. These plays had elaborate flirtation, wooing, and romantic involvement between male and female characters regardless of the gender identity of the actors. Audience acceptance of these actions and topics appear to contradict the culture of the Elizabethan erred” (Sherries, sec. , par. 1). Shakespearean play, The Taming of the Shrew, accurately presents the social norms of the time period. Though slightly exaggerated for comedic effect, it does display many secular laws and commonplace actions that went on during the Renaissance. It exhibits the law of marriage, land grants, importance of family, male dominance, female obedience, male careers as well as other standards that seem obscure in today’s society. His play fell in perfectly with the common conceptions of the Renaissance and therefore is seen as an accurate piece of historic literature.
Why did Patriotic choose Katherine over any other woman?
The reason also being why Patriotic selects Katherine over any other woman is cause it is less likely that Patriotic would obtain such immediate wealth from his father due to them having very loose ties, so, as a nobleman , Patriotic needs to find a wife with much wealth . READ: The Carolingian Renaissance Essay.
Why did Katherine's wealth go directly to Katherine?
The reason why the wealth went directly to Katherine was because of the common law in the time period which stated that “after the head of the household dies, land descended to the eldest son to the exclusion of his siblings. But if there was no son, land went to heiresses” (Studiously, par. ).
Why did sailors risk their lives?
They risked their lives for the sake of curiosity and bringing honor to their family and/or their homeland.
Why were men drawn to the seas?
“Some men were drawn to the seas out of a curiosity to discover more about the world. These explorations led to trade for gold and ivory and, soon after, slaves” (Renaissance Exploration and Trade, sec. 1).
Was marriage a socially acceptable event during the Renaissance?
During the Renaissance, it was socially acceptable to marry solely based on wealth. “The institution of marriage in the Renaissance Period was both secular and sacred. Secularly, it served as a union of two parties interested in acquiring property, money or political alliances” (Studiously, par. 1).
What does Shakespeare mean by gender roles?
Different productions of The Taming of the Shrew may choose to interpret this ambiguity differently, but with the play's emphasis on performance and swapping roles (more on this below), Shakespeare may be seen as suggesting that gender roles are just that: roles to be played, rather than natural, true identities.
What is Katherine's stubbornness?
Katherine's stubbornness and strong will cause her to be denigrated, insulted, and abused throughout the play. She is less highly valued as a potential wife than her sister and humiliated by various male characters, by none more than her own husband Petruchio.
Is Katherine tamed by Petruchio?
For one thing, with all of the disguises and deceptive performances in the comedy, it is somewhat unclear whether Katherine is really tamed by Petruchio, or whether she is simply pretending to be obedient to him.
Does Shakespeare's play portray misogyny?
In the end, the fact that the play portrays a heavy dose of misogyny is unavoidable, and much of Shakespeare's audience would doubtlessly have laughed at the sexist joking and slapstick abuse in the comedy. Whether Shakespeare would have shared in this reaction, or whether the play endorses this misogyny is somewhat more up for debate, but in any case reading the play offers just as much of an opportunity to critique misogyny and traditional gender roles as it does to reinforce them.
What does "taming the shrew" mean?
The means to social status. Issues of social status, gender and class are explored and challenged in The Taming of the Shrew. What it means to be a lord or a gentleman is one element of the Induction that causes much comedy in the opening scenes and resonates in the rest of the play. Petruchio enters the play as a gentleman by breeding, ...
What does the script say about Petruchio and his wife?
Certainly, the script suggests that Petruchio and his wife leave the stage in happy harmony, as opposed to the other couples, having achieved a balanced relationship, rather than having to be manipulative and/or domineering. an amount of money or goods given as part of a marriage contract.
What is the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina?
In a society that valued order over individualism, and which was influenced by the teachings of the church, perhaps the least problematic resolution is to see the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina as an expression of the biblical paradox with which Shakespeare’s audience were very familiar. Christian s believe that through complete submission to Christ, who lay down his life on their behalf, a person is utterly liberated and enabled to reach their fullest potential. Thus Katherina affirms the importance of submission within marriage, to a partner who puts her needs first, through which both are honoured and recognised. Certainly, the script suggests that Petruchio and his wife leave the stage in happy harmony, as opposed to the other couples, having achieved a balanced relationship, rather than having to be manipulative and/or domineering.
What is the cultural ideal of Bianca?
The initial attractiveness of Bianca is that she fits the cultural ideal of a woman who is (or appears to be) obedient, humble, chaste and silent. However, Shakespeare demonstrates that this is in fact an unrealistic representation.
What is the relationship between men and women?
The relationship between men and women. Gender role s and relationships between men and woman raise issues that relate to the taming plot as well as to other social interactions in the patriarchal society of Padua (and early modern England).
What is the structure of Katherina?
The structure of the play appears to endorse the sentiments Katherina expresses about the relative roles of men and women (it appears as a conclusion of the drama, with no character contending it). And no one would wish to live with the extremes to which Katherina takes physical and verbal autonomy.
How does Petruchio become wealthy?
Petruchio enters the play as a gentleman by breeding, yet too impoverished to maintain an appropriate lifestyle. His social status is greatly increased by his marriage to Katherina whose dowry brings him significant wealth. Similarly, Hortensio increases his social prestige through his marriage to the rich Widow.
Who played Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew?
Petruchio (Kevin Black) and Kate ( Emily Jordan) from a Carmel Shakespeare Festival production of "The Taming of the Shrew" at the outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel, CA., Oct, 2003.
Why did Katherine become obedient to Petruchio?
Her final speech dictates that women must obey their husbands and be grateful.
What is the book 50 Shades of Grey about?
However, when you consider one of the most successful books of recent times; Fifty Shades of Grey, about a young woman Anastasia learning to be subordinate to her sexually dominant partner Christian, a book particularly popular with women;
Do women take more high powered positions in the workplace?
Increasingly, women are taking more high powered positions in the workplace and in society in general. Is the idea of a man taking on all the responsibility and burden of work more appealing as a result? Would all women really prefer to be ’kept women’, with the small dispensation of having to obey your men folk in return? Are we willing to pay the price of male brutality over women for a quiet life as Katherine is?
Is Katherine a strong character?
Katherine is a character who initially speaks her mind she is strong and witty and is more intelligent than many of her male counterparts. This can be admired by a female readership. Conversely, what woman would want to emulate Bianca’s character who is essentially just beautiful but unremarkable in other aspects of her character?
Subordination
Modern Contrasts
- This flies in the face of what we learn about women in today’s ‘equal’ society. However, when you consider one of the most successful books of recent times; Fifty Shades of Grey, about a young woman Anastasia learning to be subordinate to her sexually dominant partner Christian, a book particularly popular with women; one has to wonder whether there is something appealing to wo…
Katherine - A Feminist Icon?
- Katherine is a characterwho initially speaks her mind she is strong and witty and is more intelligent than many of her male counterparts. This can be admired by a female readership. Conversely, what woman would want to emulate Bianca’s character who is essentially just beautiful but unremarkable in other aspects of her character? Unfortunately it appears that Kath…
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Katherine
- Feisty, outspoken, opinionated Katherine was a problem to be solved in this play. Perhaps Shakespeare was demonstrating the way in which women are beaten down, criticised and derided for being themselves and in an ironic way was challenging this? Petruchio is not a likable character; he agrees to marry Katherine for the money and treats her badly throughout, an audie…